Related Link: Recent Accomplishments

DENTAL CARE FOR DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN

Since 71% of children enrolled in Connecticut’s Medicaid program do not receive any dental care, Appleseed collaborated with 7 other organizations in both 2006 and 2007 to bring the oral health needs of disadvantaged children to the attention of state budget-makers. Our media campaigns of newspaper ads, postcards, direct mail and radio spots targeted the eyes and ears of the legislative and administration leaders who would be shaping the final state budget. These tactics supplemented grassroots letter-writing campaigns to the key budget-making leaders from members of all 8 organizations in support of a large increase in the state’s dental Medicaid reimbursement rate. Appleseed Board member Dr. Mike Perl’s successful mobilization of the Connecticut State Dental Association also contributed greatly to educating lawmakers on this issue.

Significant Improvement Finally in Sight

Fortunately, the state’s 2007 budget negotiation process concluded by allocating $20 million toward dental Medicaid improvements. Final settlement of the related 8-year old Carr v. Wilson-Coker class action lawsuit over the state’s dental Medicaid shortcomings was approved in 2008 by a federal court. Under the state regulations pursuant to that settlement, reimbursement rates were roughly doubled – or more – for typical dental procedures.

A New Avenue for Volunteerism: Connecticut Mission of Mercy (“CTMOM”)

CTMOM was an immensely successful weekend-long dental clinic, held in April, 2008 at Tolland High School that employed 190 volunteer dentists to provide free and greatly-needed dental care to more than 1,000 state residents. Fund-raising for CTMOM, whose purpose was to serve individuals living on small incomes or without dental insurance who cannot afford dental care, was led by Appleseed’s own Michael Perl. Appleseed also recruited two volunteer attorneys from Aetna to play an absolutely critical but behind-the-scenes role by drafting waivers and/or releases relative to the services provided by the volunteer dentists.

A second CTMOM, held in April, 2009 at the New Haven Public Field House, was an even more resounding success, serving 1,800 patients and providing $750,000 worth of dental care. Unsurprisingly, Dr. Michael Perl, once again the driving force in raising funds for the 2009 CTMOM, is already hard at work to finance the 2010 CTMOM in Middletown.

Increasing the Supply of Dental Providers to Medicaid Children

Expanding the supply of professionals willing to service disadvantaged children can, in part, be accomplished by revising the state’s strict licensing laws. So Appleseed stepped in to provide pro bono legislative drafting services for the Connecticut Health Foundation (“CHF”), drafting revisions to the state’s Dental Practices Act that were approved in the 2005 legislative session. These changes allow foreign-trained dentists to be licensed in Connecticut if they agree to work in underserved areas for a period of 2 years.